Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Hey guys, I recently bought a fun little Sea Ray 180 with the i/o Merc
130 - I only put about 5 hours on it so far. I've got a question about
winterizing. Would you suppose it would be better to take it to the
Merc dealer and have them stabilize the fuel, fog the engine, drain the
block, etc... or could I just pull it out of the garage every two
weeks, crank it up and let it run for 5 or 10 minutes out of the water?

And if it's better to run it every other week or so, what's the best
method to keeping the engine cooled? Direct connection, or the ear
muffs? I have the earmuffs. I put them on turned on the hose and ran
it yesterday for about 10 minutes. Seemed to run fine, but the temp
guage would sit at around 180 degrees.

I'm not scared to do it myself, but I just trying to find good advice
on the best way to run it out of the water, if I can and if it won't
damage the boat. I mean, will the water damage the motor if the engine
isn't on? Am I asking too many questions in one post?

Thanks for all of your help in advance!!

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Water cracks the engine block if it is sitting inside once the temperature
drop below zero.

If you scroll in the same usenet group you will find another post with
winterization tips, please follow it., its simple process you can do it by
yourself.


"ran007" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hey guys, I recently bought a fun little Sea Ray 180 with the i/o Merc
130 - I only put about 5 hours on it so far. I've got a question about
winterizing. Would you suppose it would be better to take it to the
Merc dealer and have them stabilize the fuel, fog the engine, drain the
block, etc... or could I just pull it out of the garage every two
weeks, crank it up and let it run for 5 or 10 minutes out of the water?

And if it's better to run it every other week or so, what's the best
method to keeping the engine cooled? Direct connection, or the ear
muffs? I have the earmuffs. I put them on turned on the hose and ran
it yesterday for about 10 minutes. Seemed to run fine, but the temp
guage would sit at around 180 degrees.

I'm not scared to do it myself, but I just trying to find good advice
on the best way to run it out of the water, if I can and if it won't
damage the boat. I mean, will the water damage the motor if the engine
isn't on? Am I asking too many questions in one post?

Thanks for all of your help in advance!!

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

ran007 wrote:
Hey guys, I recently bought a fun little Sea Ray 180 with the i/o Merc
130 - I only put about 5 hours on it so far. I've got a question about
winterizing. Would you suppose it would be better to take it to the
Merc dealer and have them stabilize the fuel, fog the engine, drain the
block, etc... or could I just pull it out of the garage every two
weeks, crank it up and let it run for 5 or 10 minutes out of the water?

And if it's better to run it every other week or so, what's the best
method to keeping the engine cooled? Direct connection, or the ear
muffs? I have the earmuffs. I put them on turned on the hose and ran
it yesterday for about 10 minutes. Seemed to run fine, but the temp
guage would sit at around 180 degrees.

I'm not scared to do it myself, but I just trying to find good advice
on the best way to run it out of the water, if I can and if it won't
damage the boat. I mean, will the water damage the motor if the engine
isn't on? Am I asking too many questions in one post?

Thanks for all of your help in advance!!


Where do you live? have to assume it freezes in your area if you're
laying the boat up.
I winterize my outboard and take it into the basement where it winters
at a constant 60 deg F.

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

It doesn't freeze down here - I'm not really worried about that. It
just seems that a boat engine can live the same life as a car engine if
you run it, instead of letting it sit up. My intent is to pull it out
every couple of weeks and run it. My question is, is it better than
winterizing it?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

"Awsome" wrote in message
...
Water cracks the engine block if it is sitting inside once the temperature
drop below zero.

For the past 5 years, I've simply drained the engine (by putting it in the
running position), and stored it in the garage. The engine block has not
cracked, and temps in the garage get down to 0 or 10 F.

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Are you suggesting that winterization is better than running it
frequently out of the water?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

I would just winterize it myself.

Fuel stabilizer can be bought at any home depot or boat store.
Put that in no matter what. Gas doesnt stay fresh just because you
start the engine for every so often. Good to move it around a bit but
it doesnt solve the problem.

When winterizing you should change the oil and fuel filter. Oil
can be acidic and damage the engine. Drain and replace.
As for the draining the block... If it gets cold enough it can
crack the block. I have had a few friends that did their own work
incorrectly and forgot to go the block too. Byebye engine.

You can do the job right yourself and save some money while doing it.
Its not all that hard to do, just take some time. Look over this
newsgroup to get a nice complete checklist of what to do when
winterizing it.

Tom

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

On 14 Nov 2005 06:24:34 -0800, "ran007" wrote:

It doesn't freeze down here - I'm not really worried about that. It
just seems that a boat engine can live the same life as a car engine if
you run it, instead of letting it sit up. My intent is to pull it out
every couple of weeks and run it. My question is, is it better than
winterizing it?

If it doesn't freeze wherever you are, why aren't you going boating
periodically throughout the winter? If you do, then winter is the same
as summer, no?

Dave Hall

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Sounds appealing - when winterizing, will fogging the engine be
necessary? Last thing I want is a stuck carburator...

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

ran007 wrote:
Sounds appealing - when winterizing, will fogging the engine be
necessary? Last thing I want is a stuck carburator...

Fogging does nothing for the carb.

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

wrote in message
ups.com...

ran007 wrote:
Sounds appealing - when winterizing, will fogging the engine be
necessary? Last thing I want is a stuck carburator...

Fogging does nothing for the carb.


What's it for?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Does it keep rust out of some components of the motor?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

ran007 wrote:
Sounds appealing - when winterizing, will fogging the engine be
necessary? Last thing I want is a stuck carburator...

I read that some do spray the fogging oil into the carb while the engine
is running.
I only spray into the cylinders and replace the plugs finger tight. I'm
hoping that running the motor dry with stabilized gas will take care of
the carb.

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

ran007 wrote:
Does it keep rust out of some components of the motor?

Foe sure...cylinder walls, piston......rings

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

It is much better to use your boat and enjoy your boat than winterizing it.


"ran007" wrote in message
oups.com...
It doesn't freeze down here - I'm not really worried about that. It
just seems that a boat engine can live the same life as a car engine if
you run it, instead of letting it sit up. My intent is to pull it out
every couple of weeks and run it. My question is, is it better than
winterizing it?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

So it's reasonable to say that I should winterize it?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

ran007 wrote:

So it's reasonable to say that I should winterize it?

Yes. Google up 'Winterizing Checkist' to see what's involved. Suggest
you let the dealer do it for starters and ask to see the process when
they do your boat.

--
Skipper

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

"ran007" wrote in message
oups.com...
So it's reasonable to say that I should winterize it?


Considering that it cost what....maybe fifteen bucks for the various
supplies, why not? It'll keep you out of your wife's way while she cleans
the kitchen, and then you can tromp back in full of oil and mess it up
again. Here's a good link:

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/winter/default.asp

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Here's a good link:

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/winter/default.asp

And another:

http://www.brownsmarina.com/techtips.html

--
Skipper

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

In my opinion, putting Stabil in the fuel is a good idea then run the engine
on the earmuffs long enough to get the fuel circulated into all parts of the
system. I'd also check the lower unit oil to be certain it is at the right
level and has not got any water in it. Monofilament fishing line around a
prop shaft is death to the seals. A frozen and cracked lower unit is an
very expensive replacement item.

My only concern about storage in a warm garage is the threat of a power
failure, and the resulting damage if the outage last very long. I live
rural and we are the last to get power restored, it has been out for over 2
weeks at a spell.

Obviously fogging the engine is just added protection but unless there is a
VERY humid environment, over the winter should be of no concern.

From the "For what it's worth Dept"!

Don Dando




"ran007" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hey guys, I recently bought a fun little Sea Ray 180 with the i/o Merc
130 - I only put about 5 hours on it so far. I've got a question about
winterizing. Would you suppose it would be better to take it to the
Merc dealer and have them stabilize the fuel, fog the engine, drain the
block, etc... or could I just pull it out of the garage every two
weeks, crank it up and let it run for 5 or 10 minutes out of the water?

And if it's better to run it every other week or so, what's the best
method to keeping the engine cooled? Direct connection, or the ear
muffs? I have the earmuffs. I put them on turned on the hose and ran
it yesterday for about 10 minutes. Seemed to run fine, but the temp
guage would sit at around 180 degrees.

I'm not scared to do it myself, but I just trying to find good advice
on the best way to run it out of the water, if I can and if it won't
damage the boat. I mean, will the water damage the motor if the engine
isn't on? Am I asking too many questions in one post?

Thanks for all of your help in advance!!

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

I put Stabil in the fuel, and ran the boat for about 5 minutes at
around 1300 RPM - at then it started to perform worse at idle. Was it
because of the Stabil in the fuel that caused the motor to sound worse
at idle?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Stabil doesnt usually cause the engine to run worse. It just
smells a bit odd. Are you able to cut the fuel off to the engine?
If so close the valve and run it till the carbs empty themselves of
fuel.
(near the end hold the choke, that will empty them out)

Fogging the engine is a good measure, cant hurt. Really its a good
thing for long term storage. A few months in a garage??? It could be
optional.

After that's done, change the oil, oil filter, fuel filter, you can
spray the engine
down with a corrosion preventer spray. See if your boat has a
water/fuel seperator.
Check that out too.

Dont forget to drain that block, frozen water is not your friend.
Using a marine type of antifreeze might be an idea since some
water will be left behind in the block.

Change the lower unit fluid with fresh stuff. Make sure the old
stuff didnt come out looking like thick coffee. It could mean water
mixing in a bit. No good there. In any case drain and replace.
There are a few more things to lube up on an I/O like the gimbal
bearing etc. It wouldnt be a bad idea to grease any fittings
and cables with marine grease.

Oh well, just some thoughts....

Tom

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

Tom, if I decide to pull it out of the garage every couple of weeks and
run it for 5,10 minutes, will I still need to go through the winterize
motion?

Winterize my boat, or run every couple of weeks?
 

"ran007" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tom, if I decide to pull it out of the garage every couple of weeks and
run it for 5,10 minutes, will I still need to go through the winterize
motion?


I don't mean to be rude or anything, but changing the oil and the lower unit
fluid would've taken about as long as all the typing you've done so far, and
the supplies cost less than two cases of beer. Just do it already. Winter or
not, the motor needs these things changed periodically.